DefenseNews

SOCOM begins fielding new battlefield biometrics system

The small Montana-based tech company Reveal Technology announced that its biometric tool Identifi has been formally adopted as a program of record by U.S. Special Operations Command, or USSOCOM. And, according to last week’s announcement, it’s a major milestone, not just for the company but for the technology as well. Garrett Smith, Reveal’s chief executive officer, explained that the…
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DefenseNews

The US Navy is full speed ahead on building a laser fleet

Operation Epic Fury may have strengthened the case for directed energy weapons, but the U.S. Navy’s dream of putting “a laser on every ship” may take significantly longer than expected to realize. In a posture statement delivered to the House Armed Services Committee…
DefenseNews

Air Force dubs MQ-9 the ‘MVP’ of Epic Fury as lawmakers press manned-unmanned future

The remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper was the workhorse in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, Air Force leaders told Congress on May 20, even as the service’s fiscal 2027 budget request still pours the bulk of aircraft dollars into crewed fighters. Having repeatedly proven their worth, unmanned aircraft will “play an increasingly important role as we build out into the future across the board,”…
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DefenseNews

NATO eastern deterrence strategy takes shape around ‘autonomous zone’

RIGA, Latvia — NATO’s plans to strengthen deterrence along its eastern flank envision an “autonomous zone” where only unmanned systems operate, with linked sensors, drones and long-range fires to detect and target invading Russian forces at the start of a conflict, alliance officials said on the sidelines of military exercises in Latvia last week. Latvian troops tried out unmanned ground…
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DefenseNews

Sweden picks France’s FDI frigates in potential $4.2 billion deal

PARIS — Sweden has picked France’s Naval Group to supply four of its FDI frigates in a deal that could be worth more than 40 billion Swedish kroner, or around US$4.2 billion, with the French offer beating proposals from Spain’s Navantia and the United Kingdom’s Babcock International. The frigates are expected to cost a little over 10 billion Swedish kroner each, with the final price…
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